Scaffold



Sept. 13, 1966 Filed Aug. 5, L964 S. W. SAN DERS SGAFFOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SHELBY m SANDERS INVENTOR Sept. 13, 1966 s. w. SANDERS 3,272,282

SCAFFOLD Filed Aug. 5, 1.964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 v f7a4- SHELBY m SANDERS INVENTOR MfM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,272,282 SCAFFOLD Shelby W. Sanders, Reedley, Calif, assignor of five percent to Wesley A. Lee, Caruthers, Calif., five percent to Lillian S. Bonner, Selma, Calif., five percent to Bernice B. Bonner, Reedley, Calif, and five percent to Preston J. Sanders, Sunnyvale, Calif.

Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 387,157 6 Claims. (Cl. 18263) The present invention relates to a scaffold for elevationally supporting workmen closely adjacent to work objects such as orchard trees and the like and more particularly to such a scaffold which is adapted to be mounted on the forks of a lift truck for transporting and elevationally positioning the scaffold. While the scaffold of the present invention is conveniently shown and described for operation with trees in an orchard, it will be readily apparent that such scaffold provides equal utility for attending a variety of other upright objects.

A wide variety of structures have been employed for supporting workmen adjacent to orchard trees for performing such general orchard operations as picking, thinning, pruning and the like. These devices have included boom-type platforms, portable rigid stands, and many other mobile-type platforms. Many such structures have a common disadvantage in restricting worker access to only a limited area of the particular tree being attended. Such structures must frequently be moved in order to reach other portions of the tree not accessible from such devices. During each move, the entire structure must be manipulated or enough platforms provided completely to encircle the tree. However, the rigid stands and most mobile platforms provide no elevational adjustment so that the upper branch areas of the tree are not accessible to the workment thereon. Even the elevationally positionable boom-type platforms can only be manipulated about the exterior periphery with extension inwardly of the tree being impossible for reaching the innermost branches.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved scaffold which is adapted to be mounted on a self-propelled vehicle, such as a fork lift truck for transporting and elevationally positioning the scaffold adjacent to trees in an orchard.

Another object is to provide such an improved scaffold which is capable of providing access to substantially all of the branches of a tree without moving the support vehicle.

Another object is to provide a scaffold of the character described which is capable of utilizing pairs of arcuate semicircular platforms which cooperate to provide a continuous walkway entirely around a tree.

Another object is to provide a scaffold having such arcuate platforms which can be readily adjusted to a variety of diametric sizes.

Another object is to provide a scaffold having arcuate platforms which are easily movable between retracted and work positions with a minimum of time and effort.

Another object is to provide a scaffold having arcuate platforms which, when retracted, are easily transportable between adjacent rows of trees in an orchard.

Another object is to provide a scaffold having arcuate platforms which are manipulatable in circumscribing relation simultaneously about oppositely disposed trees in adjacent tree rows.

Another object is to provide a scaffold having arcuate platforms including auxiliary platforms thereon which may be radially extendable into the tree closely adjacent to the innermost branches thereof.

Another object is to provide a scaffold which is rela- Patented Sept. 13, 1966 "ice tively simple, compact, and stable for accommodating a number of workmen thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequently become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the scaffold embodying the principles of the present invention shown in full lines with the support platforms in work positions about a pair of trees in an orchard and in retracted transport positions in dashed lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the scaffold shown supported on a fork lift truck and elevated about a tree.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through the forks of the lift truck and showing the scaffold in rear elevation as viewed in the direction of the arrows of line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the scaffold as viewed in the direction of the arrows on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical section through a scaffold mounting plate assembly showing the platform motivating mechanism, taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through an auxiliary platform on an arcuate platform taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a scaffold embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The scaffold is adapted to be associated with a conventional fork lift truck 12 having a substantially vertically disposed mast or boom 14 which mounts a lift frame 15 thereon having a pair of transversely spaced forwardly extended forks 16. The forks and lift frame are elevationally slidable on the boom by a system of hydraulic jacks, not shown, in the conventional manner.

The scaffold 10 provides a platform mounting frame or plate assembly 20 having opposite triangular ends 22 and predetermined forward and rearward sides 24 and 25, respectively. The frame includes a lower plate 30 of substantially rigid sheet material having a continuous marginally depending flange 32. A pair of brace members 33 are extended in diverging relation from the triangular ends of the frame to the forward and rearward sides and constrained in such position at each end of the frame, as by welding or the like. A pair of transversely spaced substantially parallel channel members 35 are secured to the underside of the lower plate 30, also as by welding or the like, so as to receive the forks 16 of the lift truck 12. As best shown in FIG. 4, each of the channels includes a wing-headed bolt 37 screw-threadably disposed therethrough for tightening against the forks to preclude relative axial movement therebetween.

The frame further includes a top plate 40 congruently superimposed in rigid welded relation on the lower plate 30. The top plate provides a marginally depending flange 42 to space the top plate upwardly from the bottom plate in substantially parallel relation. An intermediate plate 45 is secured by welding within the flange 42 of the top plate which, as best shown in FIG. 5, divides the frame into substantially equal upper and lower platform chambers 46 and 47. Also, a pair of opposite end slots 48 and 49 are formed through the flange 42 at the forward and rearward sides 24 and 25 of the frame in respective communication with the chambers 46 and 47. Accordingly, with the frame mounted on the fork 16 of the lift truck 12, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the longitudinal center of the frame is disposed transversely of the direction of travel of the truck. In such position, the scaffold is movable between pairs of fruit trees inplatform to support the outer end 63 thereof.

dicated by the reference numeral 50 of adjacent rows in an orchard, as shown in FIG. 1.

The scaffold of the present invention further provides a pair of arcuate worker support platforms generally indicated by the reference numeral 55 at each of the opposite ends 22 of the frame 20. Each pair of platforms provides a lower platform 56 which has an inner mounting end 57 slidably disposed within the lower chamber 47 of the frame. An elongated king pin 58 is mounted on the inner end of the lower platform in depending relation therefrom for extension through the lower plate 30 of the frame and through a spacer bushing 59 welded to the underside of the lower plate for pivotal movement of the platform thereabout. The lower platform further provides an outer arcuate portion 62 which terminates in an outer end 63 providing a substantially semi-circular platform configuration. A cantilever superstructure generally indicated by the reference numeral 65 is mounted on the upper surface of the lower As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the superstructure provides a plurality of substantially upstanding posts 66 with the center post being of the greatest length and with the posts on either side decreasing in length to terminate closely adjacent to the outer and inner ends of the platform. A plurality of rods 67 of rigid material are connected between the upper ends of the posts which serve the dual purpose of supporting the outer end 63 of the platform and providing a railing thereabout.

The pairs of arcuate platforms 55 also include an upper platform 70 having an inner end 72 disposed within the upper chamber 46 of the frame 20. A king pin 73 is secured to the inner end of the platform and is extended downwardly through the intermediate plate 45 and through a spacer bushing 74 welded to the underside of the intermediate plate. The bushing 74 is extended through the lower plate 30 in transversely aligned relation with the spacer bushing 59 of the lower platform '56. The upper platform also includes an outer arcuate portion 76 having an outer end 77 extended somewhat beyond -a semi-circular configuration so as to overlap the outer end 63 of the lower platform 56 when disposed in the fully extended work position of FIG. 1. The outer end of the upper platform provides an outer peripheral notch 78 so as to receive the outer end of the cantilever superstructure of the lower platform when in such work position. The upper platform further includes a cantilever superstructure 79 on the upper surface thereof having a plurality of posts 82 and tie rods 83 identical to the cantilever superstructure of the lower platform 56.

Each of the arcuate platforms has a plurality of auxiliary platforms 85 mounted thereon for radial extension inwardly of the arc of their respective arcuate platforms. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the auxiliary platforms .are telescopically mounted within a channel member 86 secured as by welding to the underside of the arcuate platforms. The auxiliaryplatforms are constructed of a substantially flat plate of sheet material having depending side flanges 87. The auxiliary platform is strengthened by a U-beam 88 secured to the underside thereof by welding or the like intermediate the side flanges '87.

The arcuate platforms 55 may be manually swung between their extended full line work positions and their dashed line retracted positions of FIG. 1 without mechanical or power assistance. However, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the platforms are adapted to be alternately power driven by a pair of :hydraulic jacks 90 and a system of lost-motion linkage generally indicated by the reference numeral 92. As shown, each hydraulic jack is operative simultaneously to manipulate the upper and lower arcuate platforms 70 and 56 at each of the opposite ends 22 of the frame 20. Each of the hydraulic jacks includes a cylinder end 94 pivotally mounted on its adjacent channel member 35 by a pivot bolt 95. The jack further includes an opposite rod end 96 which carries a pivot bolt 97. As best shown in FIG. 5, an upper link 100 is rigidly mounted on the lower end of the king pin 73 of the upper platform 70 and at its opposite end has an elongated slot 102 embracing the pivot bolt 97 of the rod end 96 of the hydraulic jack 90. A lower link 104 similar to the upper link 100 is rigidly connected at one end to the lower end of the king pin 58 of the lower platform 56 and at its opposite end has an elongated slot 105 embracing the pivot bolt 97 of the hydraulic jack in underlying relation to the upper link 100. A set of hydraulic hoses generally indicated by the reference numeral 107 in FIG. 2 is individually connected to the hydraulic jacks 90. A control valve 108 on the lift truck 12 is adapted for independent operation of the jacks to swing the arcuate platforms through substantially horizontal planes between their alternate work and retracted positions of FIG. 1.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. The scaffold 10 is initially mounted for transport and elevational positioning on the lift truck 12 by movement of the forks 16 into the channel members 35 of the scaffold. When disposed in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the wing bolts 37 are tightened so as to prevent relative axial movement between the forks and the frame 20 of the scaffold. With the hydraulic hoses 107 connected to the jacks 90, the control valve 108 is manipulated so as to extend the rod ends 96 from their retracted positions shown in FIG. 4. Upon such outward movement of the rod ends of the jack, the upper and lower links 100 and 104 are swung toward an aligned position during which movement the pivot bolt 97 slides through the elongated slots 102 and 105 to accommodate the eifective shortening of the links.

With continued extension of the rod ends 96 of the jacks 90, the links 100 and 104 are swung past their aligned positions until the pivot bolt 97 reaches the outer ends of the slots 102 and 105 in their respective links which disposes the links in opposite angular relation with respect to their positions with the rod ends of the jacks retracted. In such extended position of the jacks, the upper and lower arcuate platforms 70 and 56 are swung through a substantially horizontal plane in opposite rearward and forward directions respectively to the positions indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 1. In this retracted position, the overall width of the scaffold is reduced sufiiciently to permit the scaffold easily to pass between adjacent rows of the trees 50 in the orchard.

The scaffold 10 is then elevationally positioned on the boom 14 by movement of the lift frame 15 to any desired height convenient for transport of the scaffold between the rows of trees. The truck 12 is then motivated to carry the scaffold to the next set of trees 50 to be attended and stopped with the frame 20 of the scaffold substantially centered with respect to such trees. The workmen may then mount the frame and the scaffold elevated to the desired height for the particular operation to be accomplished. The control valve 108 is then again manipulated to retract the rod ends 96 of the hydraulic jacks 90 to return the upper and lower arcuate platforms 70 and 56 to their work position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. As the opposite outer ends 63 and 77 of the platforms approach each other, the upper platform 70 passes over the lower platform 56 with the outermost tie rod 67 of the lower platform sliding through the notch 78 in the outer end of the upper platform. The amount of over-' lap of the platform can be accurately controlled by stopping the movement of the hydraulic jacks 90 at any point between their fully retracted and fully extended positions depending upon the size tree being attended. With the cantilever superstructures 65 and 79 of the upper and lower platforms, such overlap is not required for supporting the outer ends of the platforms. However, with the size tree shown in the drawings, complete overlap is provided so that the upper and lower platforms provide a continuous walkway circumscribing the tree.

In any position of the upper and lower arcuate platforms 70 and 56, the auxiliary platforms 85 can be individually inwardly extended through the outer branches of the tree so that the workmen can easily reach the innermost branches. It is also noted that the top plate 40 of the frame 20 can be utilized particularly during the fruit picking operation to serve as a collection or storage area for boxes of picked fruit thereby maintaining the arcuate platform areas adjacent to the tree clear of any obstructions. After completion of the particular operation, the arcuate platforms are again retracted by extension of the rod ends of the jacks 90, as previously described, for movement of the scaffold to the next set of trees.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention has provided an improved scaffold adapted to be utilized in combination with a fork-type lift truck for easily transporting, manipulating and elevationally positioning the scaffold in operating position by a pair of trees in adjacent rows. The overlapping arcuate portions of the scaffold provide a continuous walkway around the tree which may be positioned at any desired elevational height. Furthermore, the cantilever superstructures independently supporting the outer ends of each of the arcuate platforms enable the platforms to be disposed substantially entirely about larger trees without any overlapping. Accordingly, the diametrical dimension of the arcuate platforms can be easily varied for accommodating a wide range of tree sizes.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A scaffold comprising a substantially rigid mounting adapted to be carried on an elevationally adjustable support mechanism of a self-propelled vehicle for transporting and elevationally positioning the scaffold relative to work objects, at least one pair of Worker support platforms having inner ends pivotally connected to said mounting in closely elevationally spaced relation and arcuate outer portions, a cantilever superstructure mounted on each of said outer portions supporting the outer portions for movement in substantially horizontal planes between retracted positions with the inner ends substantially aligned and work positions with the outer portions overlapped to form a continuous circular platform about the work object, and means pivotally interconnecting said platforms for simultaneous movement between said retracted and work positions.

2. In combination with a self-propelled vehicle having an elevationally adjustable load support mechanism, a scaffold comprising a substantially rigid mounting adapted to be mounted on said load support mechanism of the vehicle for earth traversing movement and elevational positioning of the scaffold relative to work objects, at least one pair of worker support platforms having substantially straight inner end portions pivotally connected to said mounting in side-by-side elevationally spaced substantially parallel relation and arcuate outer portions movable between retracted positions with the inner ends substantially aligned and work positions with the outer portions overlapped to form a continuous circular platform about 6 the work object, and link means pivotally interconnecting said inner ends of the platforms for simultaneous movement between said retracted and work positions.

3. In combination with a self-propelled vehicle adapted for earth traversing movement in a predetermined direction and having an elevationally adjustable load support mechanism, a scaffold comprising an elongated mounting plate having opposite ends adapted to be mounted intermediate its ends on said load support mechanism of the vehicle with the longitudinal axis of the plate disposed transversely of the direction of travel of the vehicle with said support mechanism transporting and elevationally positioning the scaffold relative to work objects, a pair of worker support platforms having substantially straight inner ends pivotally connected at each of said opposite ends to the mounting plate in closely elevationally spaced relation and including arcuate outer portions terminating in outer ends with each platform forming substantially semicircles, a cantilever superstructure mounted on the arcuate portion of each platform supporting the outer ends thereof for movement in substantially horizontal planes between retracted positions with the inner ends substantially aligned and work positions with the outer portions elevationally overlapped to form a continuous circular platform about the work object, and a pair of links having ends individually connected to said inner ends of the platforms and overlapping opposite ends pivotally interconnected for simultaneous movement of said platforms between said retracted and work positions.

4. In combination with a self-propelled vehicle adapted for earth traversing movement in a predetermined direction and having an elevationally adjustable load support mechanism, a scaffold comprising an elongated mounting plate having opposite ends adapted to be mounted intermediate its ends on said load support mechanism of the vehicle with the longitudinal axis of the plate disposed transversely of the direction of travel of the vehicle with said support mechanism transporting and elevationally positioning the scaffold relative to work objects, a pair of worker support platforms having substantially straight inner ends pivotally connected at each of said opposite ends to the mounting plate in side-by-side elevationally spaced substantially parallel relation and including arcuate outer portions terminating in outer ends with each platform forming a semi-circle, a cantilever superstructure mounted on the arcuate portion of each platform supporting the outer ends thereof for movement in substantially horizontal planes between retracted positions with the inner ends substantially aligned and work positions with the outer portions elevationally overlapped to form a continuous circular platform about the work object, a plurality of auxiliary platforms telescopically mounted on said arcuate portions of the platforms for independent movement radially inwardly of said arcuate portions, a pair of links having ends individually connected to said inner ends of the platforms and elevationally overlapping opposite ends having elongated slots, and means slidably extended through said slots pivotally interconnecting said opposite ends of the links for simultaneous movement of said platforms between said retracted and work positions.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said links are disposed in substantially right angular relation to each other and in symmetrical arrangement on one side of a line extended between said connections of the inner ends of the platforms to said mounting plate when said platforms are in said work positions, and said links being symmetrically arranged in said right angular relation on the opposite side of said line when the platforms are disposed in said retracted positions, and said means interconnecting the links being longitudinally slidable through said slots to permit effective shortening of the links during movement of the platforms between their retracted and work positions.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said means interconnecting the links comprises a pivot bolt, and a single powered member borne by said mounting plate having an extendible-retractable element connected to said pivot bolt for movement of said links and platforms between their retracted and work positions with said outer ends of the platforms being supported by their respective superstructures so as to support workmen thereon in any position of the platforms between their fully retracted and work positions without any additional supports between their outer ends and the ground.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller 182-430 Lord 182131 Thompson 182-113 Mitchell 182-131 Meagher 18263 Merk 18263 Australia.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

2. IN COMBINATION WITH A SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE HAVING AN ELEVATIONALLY ADJUSTABLE LOAD SUPPORT MECHANISM, A SCAFFOLD COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MOUNTING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID LOAD SUPPORT MECHANISM OF THE VEHICLE FOR EARTH TRAVERSING MOVEMENT AND ELEVATIONAL POSITIONING OF THE SCAFFOLD RELATIVE TO WORK OBJECTS, AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF WORKER SUPPORTING PLATFORMS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT INNER END PORTIONS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID MOUNTING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE ELEVATIONALLY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION AND ARCUATE OUTER PORTIONS MOVABLE BETWEEN RETRACTED POSITIONS WITH THE INNER ENDS SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED AND WORK POSITIONS WITH THE OUTER PORTIONS OVERLAPPED TO FORM A CONTINUOUS CIRCULAR PLATFORM ABOUT THE WORK OBJECT, AND LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID INNER ENDS OF THE PLATFORMS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID RETRACTED AND WORK POSITIONS. 